Friday, October 28, 2011

How I Feel About the Occupy Movement with a View of the Homeless

I have been trying to figure out how I feel about the Occupy Movement. It is difficult to find out what they are really about, given the hype and coverage that is out there. Try Google-ing “What does OWS want?” and one will find myriad results:

The results include the satirical and engage in slapstick humor (warning: language)

More seriously, an early report from ABC gives a visual walk-through of an OWS encampment “headquarters.”

A Declaration issued Sept 29th focuses exclusively upon corporations (which they see supported by Wall Street). NYCGA

Of note to me is their charge that corporations are holding students hostage through student loan debt, for which they voluntarily applied (rather than earning and paying for their degree over time as I did), as well as declaring that higher education – sans student loans, and perhaps tuition itself – is a human right.

What brought the somewhat generic mindset of this group home to me, within my sphere of influence, was a voicemail left by a self-proclaimed “leader” of the Occupy Long Beach group camping out in the same space as the chronic homeless in Lincoln Park. He wanted me as a service provider and leader to join them in seeking to make Long Beach more “homeless friendly.” I found this invitation rather arrogant and ill-informed, as all those who he was contacting have been actively addressing homeless issues for some time. His Johnny-come-lately invitation was an affront to all the efforts many have been putting into this issue . . . and to think he believes he can waltz in and experience an instant solidarity with the plight of those with whom he has been camping out for a few days . . . has he been smoking our infamous medipot?

This presents an interesting dichotomy, as some OWS camps are ironically having problems with sharing their food with the "professional homeless" who are "mooching" as reported by the Huffington Post: HUFF and New York Post: NYPOST

While another blog discusses the issues related to living on the street OWSers are learning by the seat-of-their-pants (and expecting it to be provided for them?): REALITY

I informed him that making that lifestyle friendlier will not necessarily help in ending their plight, but serve to enable it – thus harming rather than helping the individual and community. In my return voicemail I explained the efforts of many in the homeless issues and invited him to join with us through the Homeless Coalition, Kingdom Causes, the Rescue Mission and other agencies, in providing realistic paths out of the parks, and off the streets. That making the parks more inviting and comfortable for homeless persons is not the answer – as that only enables people to remain in that state.

My opinion may change as I hear more – and see some responsible effort on their part; but as I have perused the disconnected rhetoric being reported as the causes célèbres of the Occupy movements across the country, I doubt seriously if many of these demonstrators have any foundational – or even formative – ideology or realistic and practical answers to the reality of even just one demographic they may feel a solidarity with . . . the homeless – as they occupy the same ground of our urban centers. Perhaps a few weeks on the streets will help them realize how well they actually have it in this country of unlimited dreams and opportunity.

2 comments:

Sweet Cherry Vintage said...

Yes, all awhile these wanna be hippies in this anarchist movement, protesting while sipping on their Starbucks non-fat mocha soy latte, tweeting from their iPads or smart phomes, that Mommy or Daddy bought for them.

Well said Mr. Lewis!!

Anonymous said...

Wealthy corporations are given tax cuts. They then create jobs. We have a healthy economy. Less people losing homes, less new homeless people living on the streets.

Reality is trickle down economics does not work; rather than using their new found wealth (via less taxes) to create jobs, the corporations give hefty raises to their CEO's. Some, like GE, do not pay any income taxes at all.

That, briefly, is what the Occupy movement is protesting. The Supreme Court decides that campaign contributions equate speech, thus the wealth holders can "buy" our elected officials, or basically run the country.

The Occupy Long Beach people, and two homeless (one former homeless) men, I spoke to know that.

If our homeless population were to set up tables, with books, food, first aid stuff, as the OLB people are doing, they would be quickly stopped.

If that "leader" meant making it possible for our street people to do so, he would be sadly mistaken.